Posted: November 23, 2004

Triathlon: Local Stefan Kolm out of dodo Ironman Western Australia

Local triathlon star and 1993 10th-place Hawaii Ironman finisher, Stefan Kolm, has confirmed he will not be competing at the inaugural dodo Ironman Western Australia triathlon on November 28 due to injury. A disappointed Kolm injured his calf while training last month and the injury has forced him out of the race.

“I was really looking forward to competing, especially since this is the first Ironman race held in my home state but the calf has not responded to treatment,” said Kolm.

Joining Kolm on the sidelines also will be South African Jan Van Rooyen, and New Zealander Bryan Rhodes who injured his back last week in Mexico while racing a half Ironman event.

“I wouldn’t want to be on the start line without being 110 percent. I competed in a half Ironman last weekend when at 70 kilometres on the bike, my back blew to bits. I have been working with a tonne of therapists and it hasn’t gotten any better,” said a disappointed Rhodes.

The Gold Coast’s Jason Shortis is a clear race favourite having won his last two outings over the half Ironman distance. Shortis produced dominating performances at the Gold Coast Half Ironman and Forster Half Ironman in October, confirming his early season form. The challenge to Shortis will come from the Czech Republic’s Petr Vabrousek who finished second at Ironman Wisconsin in September, with youngster Peter Jacobs the dark horse after his impressive fourth and fifth places at Ironman Australia and Ironman New Zealand respectively last year.

There are 875 competitors converging on Busselton for next Sunday’s inaugural dodo Ironman Western Australia Triathlon. 653 athletes are from all states and territories of Australia including 199 from Western Australia, while 218 athletes from 21 countries, as far away as Guatemala and Zimbabwe, are making the trip to compete at the Ironman Western Australian Triathlon.